Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-12-23
A MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM.


proprietor of Holiday Street Theatre, the
new Lyceum Theatre, Baltimore, and AL
baugh's Grand Opera House, Washington,
six years ago bought "A farm of about $50
acres eight miles north of Washington, in
Montgomery county, since which time his
farm, his farming and his farming interests
have been the standing jokes of his histrion-
ic associates and of a large circle of intimate
friends
The farm was in dilapidated condition
when he took possession. The buildings
and fences were little better than ruins, and
the briars and sassafras bushes were taller
than man, even in the best parts of the
cultivated lands, So high did the Joking
run and so reduced was the land that his
friends declared he took magnifying glasses
OF high power with him in his walks about
| the farm in order TO discover grass plants in
| fields he had seeded for hay crops. His son.
Mr.. John VIM. Albaugh, Jr., went 80 far as
TO plant in the field seeded to wheat post
supporting a large frame bearing the legend
| "Ths is wheat field" Mr.. Albaugh was
not, however, discouraged by the unpromis-
ing condition of his purchase, nor by the
wit INDUCED in at his expense, and after
hard struggle, the expenditure OF a large
sum of money, the application of strict bus
mess methods, and the use of the best agri-
ing his farm not only beautiful, but remun-
erative in these days of low priced agricul-
tural products.
He had the money to develop his place
and spent it freely. He thought it was not
wise to linger over improvements for long
series of years when by diligence, push and
means they could be perfected at once, so he
Succeeded in doing in a year or two what
| his neghbors thought would take twenty
years to accomplish. To go on the farm
and work was for him great rest, great
relief, and he spent hours each day for long
periods in personally supervising and d.
recting the various works. Mr.. Albaugh
before his purchase had taken no interest in
agriculture, but soon made it his hobby and
did everything on the scientific high pres.
sure style with great success. A friend says
he has simply done with the rundown farm
what he did with every rundown theatre,
opera house or other place Of public amuse.
ment he took charge of in different parts of
this country--1oubled the income and pro.
ductveness and vastly improved all the sur
roundings in i limited space of time
party went down from Baltimore Yes
terday by rail TO view "this vanity OF the
atrlcal man" Horses were brought into re-
QUESTION at Washington, and most delight
lu drive was enjoyed out the old Bladens-
burg road. The whole country from Wash
ingtOn to the farm is being laid out for vii
lagos and Tor beautiful villas. Hotels and
institutions Of learning are t. be built. The
farm is called as ldes's Dale" after daugh.
ter OF Mr.. Aibaugh. 1t is three and half
miles from Silver Spring Station, on the
Metropolitan Branch OF the Baltimore and
OHIO Railroad, three and half mics from
College Statna, three miles from b 1tsville,
four miles irrn Ivy City raco course and
about six mites iron the famous Bladens.
burg dueiiny grounds. Elk Secretary Hugh
McCuIloch lives just opposite on the east
On the north is the estate of the late M. II.
hutchinson, President of the Alaska Seal.
skin Company. On the south is the farm of
Mr. Walter Rap'ey, of The National Thea
ire, Washington, d. O. From any stand
point the views of the surrounding rolling
country are magnificent, and the great shaft |
of the Washington Monument towers up
like huge sentinel guarding the diversified |
landscape. A beautiful grove of primitive
oaks is on either side of the entrances % the |
farm, and the wellkept, well inclosed and
productive fields AMI fine farm buildings |
made decided impression on the visitors /
The fields which last summer required a |
magnifying glass to find the grass plants, |
and bore the legend of "This is a wheat |
field" cut over two tons of excellent timo
thy hay to the acre, from 80 to 100 tons of |
which, being surplus over and above what |
the farm stock can consume, will be sold |
this winter in Washington. The farmhouse |
and farm buildings with their ornate sur
roundings, looked like a little village, neat
and orderly in its appointment, as the party |
drove up. The diversified, rolling land, |
with excellent drainage, presented fine ap.
pearance with its trim orchards and grow
ing crops Of wheat anl rye. Mr.. James w.
Wilson, manager of the farm, received the
company, assisted by owens" setter pre-
sented to Mr.. Albaugh by the late John +.
Owens, "Watch," Siberian bloodhound,
who has wonderful affection for his mas.
ter coly dogs and other CANNES, all of
high degree. At a replst which followed,
Mr.. Albaugh explained, in answer to ques-
ton, that his milk did not cost rs much as
bis champagne, which was thought To be
highly creditablc 10 any amateur iarmer.-
The butter made by Mrs. Wilson was pro
nounced the equal III any IN the world, and
later the dairy was inspected with much sat
islaction. All the butter made On the farm
is taken by one firm The main products
sold from the farm are timothy hay, corn,
wheat, oats, rye, potatoes, garden truck and
poultry. The biggest interest on the farm
is the dairy.
The dwelling is artistic and commodious,
lighted throughout by gas. The great circle
in front OF the house Is edged with roses.
The adornments within are principally por.
traits OF the great ACTRESSES and actors Of
hall a century ago that have pissed away,
and portraits OF many Of those still on the
stage. Speaking If some of his former visi
tors, Mr.. Al5Iugh 5 nd 81 would like them
TO see the place now they were here when
the briars AMI the sassalras bushes had
charge, and would like them to see the
change, and To know that the investment in
the place and It's improvements now pays an
interest OF aboutS per cent" He regards
with qualification MS success as farmer,
and he laughs aud jests of his friends with
cOmpacency.
Instead of buying lumber to build his barns,
stables, barracks, tenant houses, dwelling,
other houses for general purposes, fencing
plank, &c, &c, Mr.. Albaugh put a saw mill
on the place, and soon sawed, right at hand,
all the material he wanted. A walk over
the place showed that the operations of varl-
Gus kinds for the further improvement of
the estate were being pushed rs rapidly as
ever Gangs Of men were engaged in crack
ing aud placing stone on different farm roads.
Other gangs wsr working down so acre
breadth Of land n ~ in forest with the ibten
ton of putting Ia corn next spring. fhey
Nuf thC hC@A N'"HI CIV Cub ouNu pDnb5 VI !
rails as they could, cut the suitable stuff into
cord wood, burnc the laps and grubbed and
piled the roots. Others Blasted rocks on the
farm or worked in a gravel bank 10 get
dressing for the reads. Still others were
making a manure collar anil conducting the
multiplicity IF details requiring attention
about a well ordered farm. Everything
worked smoothly, ami Mr.. Albaugh seem.
ed 10 enj " the whole matter with the great
est zest The work is done largely by mules
Of unusual size. The meadows are 10 course
OF Improvement
The most wretched spot on the farm was
a hillside that annoyed Mr.. Albaugh exceed.
ingly on account Of its appearance. Now
it is the site Of a most thrifty young orchard,
with great variety OF peaches, ;ars, pluns,
cherries, Sc, AMI promises 10 pay hand
somely.
Mr.. AIbaugh requires individual merit In
each one Of his farm animals In addition 10
having them Of the best known strains of
registered stock. "Frolic," a magnificent
A "a Il IL. l.. A a. I